Apple's Incoming M4 Chips Are All About AI

Apple is gearing up to introduce its next-generation M4 chips, which are expected to significantly enhance AI capabilities across its Mac lineup. The M4 chips are nearing production and will be integrated into Macs starting in late 2024. These chips are anticipated to come in at least three main variants, targeting different segments of Apple's product range. The entry-level devices like the MacBook Air and the Mac mini will feature the Donan chip, while the higher-end MacBook Pros and the Mac Pro will be powered by the Brava and Hidra chips, respectively.

The M4 processors will be built on an improved version of the 3nm process used for the M3 chips, promising boosts in performance and power efficiency. Apple's focus on AI is evident in the planned inclusion of a more powerful Neural Engine with an increased number of cores dedicated to AI tasks. This enhancement aligns with the industry's trend towards more robust AI computing on devices.

Apple will announce the AI capabilities of the M4 chips at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June, where they'll also unveil the next version of MacOS. The M4 chips are expected to support up to 512GB of Unified Memory, a significant jump from the current 192GB limit, which will likely benefit AI and machine learning applications. Mac sale fell by almost 27% last year, as the M3 Macs that launched last year october didn't perform in terms of sale as the M2 due to less improvements in performance.

The M4 chips will push AI compatibility into Apple's products, as the first M4-powered Mac is expected to make its debut later this year. iMacs such as low-end 14-inch MacBook Pro, high-end 14" and 16" MacBook Pros, and Mac minis are expected to come with the M4 chips. The M4-powered 13” and 15” MacBook Air, Mac Studio and Mac Pro are all expected to come around later next year.